Translating material



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

MIRABAU SIMS, GF LLANERCI-I, PENNSYLVANIA, ASVSIGNOR TO SIMS AUTOMATICCONVEYER COMPANY INCORl?ORATED,` A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

TEANSLATINGMATERIAL.

To aZZ whom it may lconcern:

Be it known that I, MIRABEAU SIMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Llanerch, in the county-of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Translating Material, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to the translation, or the moving from one placeto" another, of material either loosely in bulk, or packed in containerssuch as boxes or barrels. The object is to move material atasufficiently high velocity (without waste of energy) to float the sameon a column of air.

The invention comprises the method of actuating the material byatmospheric pressure, and consists in creating and maintain* ing belowatmospheric-pressure-conditions proportioned or adjusted to the specificgravity, `or the bulk and weight of the stock to be acted upon, so thatthe full force of the normal atmospheric pressure may be utilized tobalance and support said stock.

A further factor in determining the below atmospheric pressure to becreated, may be the speed or velocity with which it is desired to movethe material.

While the below atmospheric pressure is carefully proportioned oradjusted to the specific gravity or bulk and weight of the material tobe operated on, it will also be understood that the quantity to be movedin a given time and the distance which it is to be moved, involveconsiderations of volume and velocity as effecting the below atmosphericconditions or zones.

In order to release the material from the conditions just recited thereis connected with the conductor an inclosing section having enlargedcrosssectional area where the lineal foot speed of travel of the air issubstantially decreased, and the below atmospheric conditions are somodified that the material is no longer sustained by the atmosphere, butresponding to the force of gravity, discharges to any required point.

This broad description applies either to material in bulk or to materialinclosed in cases or receptacles.

Where the material is inclosed in receptacles, the receptacles are ofcross-sectional area somewhat less than that of the conductor in whichthey are adapted to travel, and the below atmospheric conditions beingcreated on one side, preferably the upper i Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 1s, 1919.

Application mea July 31, 1915. serial no. 42,890.

side of` receptacle, the air below at atmosplieric pressure will tend topass between the walls of the receptacle and the conductor, but since it`cannot pass with sufficient speed to satisfy thel below atmosphericconditions `of the skin friction of the conductor, tend totravel nearthe center of the column of air, becausethe center of a column of airtravels faster than its periphery following the lines of leastresistance.

Referring to the drawings which illus trate, merely by way of example,suitable means for eifecting my invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the conveyer apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Y

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The means shown in Fig. 1 is adapted for operation upon containers suchas boxes. The conductor 7 is of corresponding but slightly greatercross-section than that of the box 8 so that a slight air space is pr`vided between the sides of the box and the `blower 9 serves to create abelow atmospheric pressure in the conductor above the box 8. This blower9 is driven by the motor 111` controlled by the rheostat 15 by which itsspeed is regulated to secure the pressure in the required proportion tothe weight and bulk: of the box 8 and its contents. The box is insertedat the enlarged end 17. The air beneath the box being at atmosphericpres sure will easily support the box when the pressure is sufficientlydiminished from above. The slight amount of air that may pass around thesides of the box while not sufficient to satisfy the below atmosphereabove will serve to counteract friction between the box and the walls ofthe conductor, and thus the box will readily respond to said atmospheric.pressure and will move upwardly in the conductor and over the bend 10,into the enlarged chamber 1,3, whereupon, coming into zone of diminishedvelocity of air travel, it responds to the action of gravity andfalls orslides toward the valve gate or discharge port 11, This port normallycontains a box seated therein between flaps 16 of leather or otheryielding material, thus maintaining a substantially air tight closure ofthe port. The box is held in such position against below atmosphericpressure in chamber, by pressure springs 18 or other suitable means. Themomentum of the succeeding box, falling or sliding from point 11 to thebox held as a closure, is suilicient to force the latter beyond the portand free therefrom, to travel along a chute l2. The former now takes theplace of the box displaced by it, until it in turn is displaced by thebox following.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 it should also be noted that the tracks 32are provided on the lower side of chamber 13 for facilitatingthemovement of the boxes from the point 10 to the discharge port 11.

What I claim is 1. The method which consists in delivering a receptacleby pneumatic pressure to a discharge port and automatically maintainingsaid discharge port closed by said receptacle against the admission ofair until and during the movement of another receptacle thereto.

2. The method which consists in delivering an article by pneumaticpressure to a discharge port and automatically maintaining saiddischarge port closed by said article against the admission of air untiland during the movement of another article thereto.

MIRABEAU SIMS.

Witness MAE HOFMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.

